More Details Revealed By County Officials At Press Conference For 'Trip Around The County'

By Isaac White.

Thursday June 29th saw a coordinated series of raids to close unlicensed cannabis dispensaries across St. Lawrence County. Seven search warrants were executed synchronously throughout the area that day. A press conference held June 30th at the St. Lawrence County board room opened by St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks J. Bigwarfe offered more details about the multi-headed effort.

The St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force spearheaded the joint operation, receiving assistance from several other agencies including the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, St. Lawrence County District Attorney's Office, Canton Police Department, Potsdam Police Department, Gouverneur Police Department, Ogdensburg Police Department, Massena Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Border Patrol.

According to county officials, this cooperative effort unfolded over several months, targeting unlawful sales of controlled substances and illicit sales of marijuana/concentrated cannabis and flavored vapes to individuals below the age of 21. Officials also highlighted that in addition to allegations of unlawful sales of cannabis, Psilocybin (psychotropic fungi) and "6 switchblade style knifes" were seized during the raids. Psilocybin is a schedule I drug under Federal law.

In total, 66 grams of psilocybin, 27 pounds of cannabis concentrates, 63.2 ounces of cannabis flower, 18,368 flavored nicotine vapes, and $37,513 in US currency were recovered from the seven stores, according to the police. Eight people were also detained.

Officials stressed that because the stores are not part of a statewide compliance program, concerns over safety of the cannabis products sold was one alarm raised by officials. The risk of customers having adverse reactions to potentially untested products they purchased appears to be a significant concern for local, county, and state officials.

Underage persons were also utilized to purchase products prohibited to people under twenty-one. During the press conference, officials confirmed that some unlicensed shops sold products to these underage persons used as part of the operation.

Officials were primarily concerned with sales of psychedelic Psilocybin at some of these shops. Sheriff Bigwarfe emphasized his view that Psilocybin is a dangerous drug.

"Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic, which is a controlled substance that is illegal," he said. He added that the chemical compound can cause "dangerous hallucinations that can be very, very dangerous to the citizens."

The St. Lawrence County District Attorney further highlighted the risks of minors consuming any of the seized goods. Mr. Pasqua warned the assembled audience that using these drugs by those whose brains are still developing poses a risk to both those individuals and their future.

Both Sheriff Bigwarfe and DA Pasqua told reporters they intend to continue to investigate any unlicensed dispensaries in operation and will shut them down. When asked about any of these shops reopening, the duo said that they will take the appropriate actions to investigate and continue their mission to ensure the public's safety. Pasqua also said there may be more arrests coming in relation to Operation Trip Around The County.

One of the issues surrounding the raids is the location of one of the shops in Massena that is alleged to be located in the "Mile Square" area of the Seven Nations of Canada Treaty lands. Famous A's in Massena, one of the locations raided in the operation, is reputedly owned by Akwesasronon. The vast majority of Akwesasronon claim the land upon which Famous A's is located is Mohawk property by Treaty, which according to U.S. law is supreme.

A U.S. Court recently found that New York indeed violated the Non-Intercourse Act as claimed by Akwesasne and its people. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council was not involved in these raids according to Pasqua.

Pasqua avoided substantive answers regarding the land claims area questions posed.

"I'm not going to get into if there's a dispute in any of that land," Pasqua said. "The shops where these search warrants are executed are located in St. Lawrence County. The two are located in the village of Massena, they're not licensed by New York state, and they're engaging in activities they had no authorization to do."

The following is the list provided by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff:

• Legends Smoke Shop, 701 Canton St. in the town of Oswegatchie. Bigwarfe said the shop is within 400 feet of Ogdensburg Free Academy school grounds. Two people were arrested: Mohammed Abdo Mona Saleem, 25, Syracuse, was charged with felony counts of fourth- and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Olivia A. Henry, 26, Ogdensburg, was charged with fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police say they seized 7.5 grams of psilocybin candy bars and gummies, along with 6.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 2,809 grams of concentrated cannabis, 2,190 nicotine vapes, six switchblade knives and $20,309 in U.S. currency.

• Legends Dream Exotic Tobacco, 63 Market St. in Potsdam. No one was present when police arrived with a search warrant and charges are pending. Police say they seized 23.5 grams of psilocybin, 29 ounces of cannabis flower, 1,386 grams of cannabis concentrates and 7,689 flavored nicotine vapes.

• Ash Exotics, 1 Market St. in Potsdam. Police arrested Musa Munir Abdulmalei AI Bahri, 25, Syracuse, and charged him with a misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal sale of cannabis for allegedly selling to someone younger than 21, a felony count of second-degree criminal possession of cannabis and two counts of unlawful sale of cannabis, which is a violation. Police say they seized 3.5 pounds of cannabis, 1,224 grams of concentrated cannabis, 5,283 nicotine flavored vapes and $6,883 cash.

• Famous A's at 157 Center St. in Massena. Police arrested Thunder C. Anderson, 46, Akwesasne, and Julianne E. Jacobs, 31, Massena. They were each charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of cannabis. Police say they seized 42 pounds of cannabis, 5,707 grams of concentrated cannabis, 767 flavored nicotine vapes and $1,616 cash.

• THC Remedies, 6 Beach St. in Massena. Police arrested Joshua L. Shorette, 39, Brasher Falls, and Justin L. Deshane, 31, Massena. They were both charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of cannabis.

• Exit 420, 101 East Main St. in Gouverneur. Police arrested Jameel J. Mazab, 21, Auburn, and charged him with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of cannabis.

• Canton Tobacco Shop, 39 Main St. in Canton. Police arrested Emad al-Wael, 36, Garland, Texas, and charged him with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling to someone younger than 21. Police say they seized 35 grams of psilocybin candy bars, 108 grams of cannabis concentrates, 45 ounces of kratom, 1,185 flavored nicotine vapes and $255 cash.